August 29

To show their displeasure about tomorrow’s impending strike, fans at the Devil Ray-Angel game begin throwing foul balls back onto the field at Edison Field, and over 100 people are ejected for throwing trash. New words are added to the traditional seventh-inning rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” as many of the fans in attendance begin to chant, “Don’t strike! Don’t strike! Don’t strike!”.

The Diamondbacks whitewash the Giants, 2 – 0, as OF Luis Gonzalez becomes the 19th player in history to hit 50 home runs in a season.

The Cardinals down the Padres, 16 – 14, in the highest-scoring game of the season. St. Louis scores nine runs off Bobby Jones in the 2nd inning, while Ryan Klesko goes 5 for 6 for San Diego, with two home runs, two doubles, and five RBIs. One of the homers travels an estimated 472 feet, the longest by an opposing player at Busch Stadium since figures were recorded in 1988. The Cardinals score two runs on a strikeout when runners, who are breaking from first and second, score after pinch-hitter Bobby Bonilla strikes out throwing his bat down the third-base line, causing Cardinal third baseman Phil Nevin to duck to avoid being hit by the flying lumber. At the same time, catcher Ben Davis’s throw, attempting to cut down the runner at an unmanned third base, goes into left field which allows Edgar Renteria to score from second while Eli Marrero also tallies from first as left fielder Rickey Henderson misplays the ball.

The Pirates defeat the Giants, 8 – 0. Barry Bonds’s single is the only hit allowed by Kris Benson (8 innings) and Josias Manzanillo (1 inning).

The Dodgers defeat the Brewers, 7 – 2, as Chan Ho Park (8 innings) and Mike Fetters (1 inning) combine on a one-hitter. James Mouton’s home run is Milwaukee’s only hit.

Darin Erstad, going 3-for-5, gets his 200th hit of the season in the Angels’ 9-4 comeback victory over the Blue Jays at Edison Field. The Anaheim DH reaches the 200-hit plateau quicker than any other player since Cardinal outfielder Ducky Medwick, who accomplished the feat in 1935 playing in 131 games.

When the Braves come to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Reds, 4-2, a power spike causes most of the lights to go out at Turner Field, causing a 12-minute delay. The Atlanta crowd is treated to a rendition of the song, “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia,” waiting for play to resume.

On a night when every player in the Astros’ starting lineup gets a hit, reserve catcher Tony Eusebio’s hitting streak ends at 24 games, a franchise record. The backup backstop’s accomplishment is the fifth longest by a big league catcher since 1900.

Tony Eusebio’s home run in the top of the 13th inning is the difference in the Astros’ 11-9 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. The Houston catcher’s homer breaks the skid of eleven consecutive losses, which is a team record.